Pages

bg

Thursday, April 30, 2015

My very first COPIC marker experience!

My very first experience with copic markers and I LIKE THEM!

ONE YEAR AGO, I bought the 72 Copic markers set A for Papercrafting. At the same time that they arrived, my husband got a new job in another town and we had to begin the process of decluttering our home, fixing it up and selling it, then packing up and buying and moving and unpacking. Once we were moved, there was the whole process of getting kids ready for the school year and then these past several months have just been a whirlwind. So the markers got set on a shelf or packed in a box since then.
When I set up my craft room last September, I got my markers all prettied up in a little wooden holder and they have been in front of me ever since. I've not been able to sign up for a copic certification or coloring
class for the past year, which is part of the reason why I was holding out even trying
them.... I was a little skeptical to dive into it, afterall, not knowing what I would be doing.

Then for my birthday this year, my husband planned a surprise party for me, by which I was surprised with, and many of our new friends showed up and even bought me presents from my amazon wishlist... one item of which was the special Xpress Copic blending paper. Yippee! I said to myself, "I have no reason to put this off any longer!"

So today, I needed to make a birthday card for a soon-to-be 9 year old, my daughters friend.
I immediately decided that I would pull out my copics and TRY to use them on this card. Might be bad, might be OK, but I was going to try!
I printed 4 of the image out, since I was planning on messing up at least once, LOL.

Now I am not going to try to "tutorial", since I of course, really don't know exactly what I am doing with copics yet. To an experts eye, there is probably much lacking from my copic coloring on this hot-diggity-dog.
But to my untrained eyes, I actually think he turned out kinda cute and not too bad. I did mess up on the dog's back though, you can see a faint "line" across the side of his back... haha, I tried to use the copic #0 colorless blender to make shiny highlights like I always see on those "professional" cards.... LOL, that was a mistake. Don't try to use that feller without having done some research first or taken a copic class on the colorless blender. I messed the doggie up badly and tried to "save" it by using the browns over it again a few times to reblend it brown.... I think I saved him enough for a 9 year old's card. If I was giving the card to someone who I know would "notice" stuff like that, I would have started over.
I was trying to make the fur on the dog look like fur... I didn't much succeed, but hey, this is my first attempt ever, so you know it isn't perfect.
Here's my final card:

For the body, I used the browns E31, E35, E37, E29.
For the tongue I used R20, R32, R02 and E04.
For the cheek E04
For the hat BG10, BG16, BG49
For the balloon, hat fringe and collar V12, V06, V09
Around the body and on the bone on the collar is a little W1 and W3
I used a micro fine liner to draw the string to tie the balloon to the tail

For the balloon, I wasn't even going to try to use the colorless blender again, I just left two spots without any color to make the highlights.
I am not sure if I even used the right groups of colors together... I just played it by eye and picked ones that looked like they were matching in tones. Afterall, I only have the A set of Papercrafting Copics so the color options for each color group aren't many. But it is enough for a beginner like me.
Here's the copic colors I used:

I am SO impressed with the Xpress cardstock, that I don't think I even want to try copics on anything else! The only problem I had was the cardstock seemed to have some watermark type spots in it, even after the copic ink went in there. You can see if you look at the close up of the dogs body and on the balloon... not sure if that is a defect or if all the paper is like that. My paper has been in it's package since I got it, so I doubt anything was spilled on it. I might try buying another package to see if there is a difference in the paper lot.

To finish off the card, I did the inside too:

So that's all! I really LOVE how the copics look, even though I couldn't blend very well and don't know too much about the #0 yet. I am going to keep at it. Now I can't wait to color again!

Laurie, not only is your card adorable, your coloring is fantastic. I'm still trying to get used to my copics (since Christmas) and I know without a class, I will never be very good. After seeing your first try, you could teach me!

OMGoodness, Laurie, you are too hard on yourself! I love it! :) I think you did an awesome job coloring! I want to get some of these pens, but I've been so afraid:( It's a big investment if you don't know how to use them! If only my first try would come out so good! :)

You did a fantastic coloring job. I thought you had put the little dots on the dog and balloon to give it 'texture' so it looks natural. If you're this good with no classes/training, wow!!! I can't wait to see future projects from you.

Your coloring is fabulous and almost embarrassing me with your talent and just now using Copics. I haven't tried that particular paper. I've been using Color HP Laser paper. It's not too thin, does great with copics, lot more for your money, but it's not cardstock with is a downside. I love your color combos you chose. PS I'm able to find time to comment so I'm doing a lot of catch up. Hope all is going well at school.

MAKE A NOTE

We are all inspired by other creative people. My goal is to inspire you. I hope that if you used one of my templates or cased one of my original works, that you make it noted that you have done so. But please do not copy my original ideas or duplicate my projects for contest submissions, magazine submissions or other publication. Thanks! Feel free to link anytime.FTC Declaration: In accordance with FTC16CFR, Part 255, I declare that I currently receive or have received in the past products that I promote and endorse for free or at a discount from the following companies: Clear Dollar Stamps, Doodle Pantry